Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was an American statesman and politician. A member of the Federalist Party, he served as United States Minister to France, from September 9, 1796 to February 5, 1797. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

He was the Federalist Party’s nominee for Vice President of the United States, in 1800, and for President of the United States, in 1804 and 1808. He was previously a candidate for the Federalist Party’s 1796 and 1800 presidential nominations.

Charles was the first major party nominee for President of the United States who never ended up serving as president.

Charles was the son of Eliza (Lucas) Pinckney, a planter and agriculturist, and Charles Pinckney, a politician, who was chief justice of the Province of South Carolina. His mother was born in Antigua and Barbuda. His brother, Thomas Pinckney, was a statesman and politician, who was a Federalist Party candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1796. His first cousin, once removed, Charles Pinckney, was a politician, who served as Governor of South Carolina.

Charles was married to Sarah Middleton, until her death. He was then married to Mary Stead. He had three children.

Charles’s paternal grandfather was Thomas Pinckney (the son of Richard Pinckney and Catherine). Thomas was born in Bishop Aukland, Durham, England. Richard was the son of Richard Pinckney and Grace Archer.

Charles’s paternal grandmother was Mary Cotesworth (the daughter of Charles Cotesworth and Ann Kipling). Mary was born in Eggleston, Quarter, Middleton-In-Teesdale, England. Charles’s great-grandfather Charles Cotesworth was the son of Charles Cotesworth.

Charles’s maternal grandparents were George Lucas (the son of John Lucas) and Ann/Anne Mildrum.